Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship at NJII

The Entrepreneurship Division at NJII is focused on engaging startups, growing businesses, and organizations in entrepreneurial thinking and activities. We work with organizations and teams to help them expand their innovation mindset and train others in the methods of entrepreneurship.

We provide continuous programming to support the growth of industry specific verticals and strive to expand entrepreneurial support services for underserved communities around the state.

Whether you are here because you are launching or about to launch your first company, or you have a promising idea or piece of research and don’t know what to do next, we’re here to help. We also work regularly with established and growing businesses and can provide those of you that fit that bill a variety of services to help in a multitude of ways.

VentureLink

Innovation Retreats

IP and Commercialization

VentureLink is more than just an office building for my company. It's our connection to the rich pool of student talent at NJIT, and a hub for networking with both budding and seasoned entrepreneurs. Plus, the coffee machine makes hot chocolate with milk!

John Vito d'Antonio-BertagnolliCEO of Ocular Motor Technologies

What We Do

Help start and grow promising young businesses

Create cultures of innovation

Connect companies with funding, mentors, and customers

Provide personalized 1-on-1 support & mentoring

Conduct regular workshops and educational sessions

Facilitate professional networking

Host community building social events

Extend service provider connection & discounts

Found and launch incubators, accelerators, foundrys & studios

Support technology commercialization

Offer licensing of NJIT research and technologies

Own and manage coworking and private office space

Why Choose Us?

sq. ft. office space

established businesses

student entrepreneurs

sq. ft. coworking space

Your Ideas Realized at NJIT

VentureLink is a unique incubator and co-working space located on the campus of NJIT. We offer budding and established entrepreneurs a place to call home. While many take advantage of our co-working and private office space, it’s also a destination for anyone who wants to share ideas, learn and network. It’s an ideal place to return to once the storm of COVID-19 has passed and a flexible solution for a primarily remote operation.

Meet the Leadership Team

Will Lutz is the General Manager for Entrepreneurship at the NJ Innovation Institute. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, he is a four-time entrepreneur with two exits and retired nuclear submarine Navy veteran.

Chelsea Samuelson is the Director of Growth for Entrepreneurship at the NJ Innovation Institute. A Duke Public Policy Graduate with an MBA from Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT Sloan, her professional background is with consumer-facing technology startups and early-stage manufacturing.

Catherine Tsavalas is the Program Director for VentureLink. She previously ran a nationally-ranked accelerator program in Pittsburgh, and has been consulting with early-stage technology startups on marketing and customer development, lean startup methods, and people operations for over seven years.